Cook County Cold-related Deaths At 9

Alsip Man Found Dead In Car

Weather A Factor

Nine deaths in Cook County have been blamed on the weather this winter, a toll that is about average, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

The first death was Nov. 3; the most recent case came early Thursday, when a 64-year-old Alsip man who apparently suffered a heart attack was found dead in his car in a parking lot in southwest suburban Hometown.

Three deaths involved elderly people found in their homes, two on the South Side and a third in northwest suburban Hanover Park. Two unidentified men were found in abandoned garages in the Lawndale and Austin neighborhoods and another unidentified man was found near an Uptown street last week.

The medical examiner's office said that, while many of the victims suffered from illnesses such as heart disease, all died in part due to cold exposure.

Nine weather-related deaths is about what the medical examiner's office normally sees at this point of the season, said a spokeswoman for the office. Last winter, the office reported 20 deaths.

During winter, officials say, elderly people living alone and the homeless are most susceptible.

Samir Goswami, a policy specialist with the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, estimates that on a given winter night 15,000 homeless people are competing for about 5,000 beds, forcing many to seek shelter in abandoned garages, parks and under bridges.

"It's brutal because it not only makes them vulnerable to weather-related illnesses but also any ongoing illnesses they may have get exacerbated by the weather," Goswami said.

This winter has been mostly mild with a few cold snaps, but less-than-extreme conditions are still dangerous, especially for the homeless, said Cook County Hospital emergency-room physician Dr. Austin Chai. A homeless person may opt to sleep outside rather than seek shelter, risking hypothermia if temperatures drop during the night, Chai said.

The city's Department of Human Services urges those living on the streets to call 311 for a ride to one of the 65 shelters or head to a police or fire station or hospital emergency room, where they also can get a ride.

If you have an elderly relative living alone, calling 311 will prompt a well-being check, said Human Services Commissioner Ray Vazquez.

And for tenants, if landlords let temperatures drop below 65 degrees from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m., 68 degrees from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. or 63 degrees between 10:30 p.m. and 7:30 a.m., they can also call 311 and let operators know they have insufficient heat. A city inspector will be sent out within 24 hours.